Crawler drive system

ABSTRACT

A drive assembly for a mining vehicle includes a frame, a housing coupled to the frame, and a motor positioned in the housing. The motor includes a motor frame with a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end. The drive assembly also includes a transmission that is positioned at least partially within the frame. The transmission is coupled to the motor frame at the first axial end. The drive assembly further includes a support assembly that couples the second axial end of the motor frame to the housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/508,731, filed May 19, 2017, the entire content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to mining vehicles, and more particularlyto mining vehicle drive assemblies.

Drive assemblies used on mining vehicles are typically custom built tofit a specific vehicle for a specific application. However, custom drivesystems are expensive to develop and lack the flexibility to be usedacross multiple, different vehicle platforms and applications.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides a drive assembly for a miningvehicle including a frame, a housing coupled to the frame, and a motorpositioned in the housing. The motor includes a motor frame with a firstaxial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end. The driveassembly also includes a transmission that is positioned at leastpartially within the frame. The transmission is coupled to the motorframe at the first axial end. The drive assembly further includes asupport assembly that couples the second axial end of the motor frame tothe housing.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a drive assembly for amining vehicle including a housing and a motor positioned in thehousing. The motor includes a first axial end, a second axial endopposite the first axial end, and a standardized face plate at the firstaxial end. The drive assembly also includes a transmission having astandardized input face coupled to the standardized face plate of themotor and a support assembly coupling the second axial end of the motorto the housing.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a support assembly forsupporting a motor within a housing on a frame of a mining vehicle. Thesupport assembly including a mount with an upper flange portion and alower yoke portion. The flange portion includes an aperture and the yokeportion is configured to be coupled to an axial end of the motor. Thesupport assembly also includes a fastener extending through theaperture. The support assembly further includes a nut coupled to an endof the fastener. The nut is slidably receivable within a slot of thehousing to couple the support assembly to the housing.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crawler leg.

FIG. 2 a perspective view of a drive assembly attached to the crawlerleg of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the drive assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the drive assembly of FIG. 2 detailing asupport assembly.

FIG. 5 is an isolated view of the drive assembly of FIG. 2

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the drive assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drive assembly according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the drive assembly of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

FIGS. 1-6 show a drive assembly 10 that is configured to be coupled to amining vehicle (e.g., a sizer, a shovel, etc.) or other work vehicle todrive movement of that vehicle. With reference to FIG. 2, the driveassembly 10 includes a standardized transmission 14 and a motor 18 witha standardized motor frame 22 (i.e., motor housing) such as a NationalElectrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA) standard or InternationalElectrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard frame. The drive assembly 10is a final drive that can be coupled to either a crawler or a wheel. Thestandardized motor frame 22 of the motor 18 allows the transmission 14and the motor 18 to be directly coupled together without any additionalor customized coupling devices. As explained in greater detail below,since the drive assembly 10 utilizes standardized components (e.g., aNEMA frame motor 18), the drive assembly 10 can be utilized in a varietyof vehicle applications and supported on the vehicle in advantageousways. The terms “standard,” “standardized,” and the like as used hereinmean configured in accordance with NEMA standards, IEC standards, or anyother motor, transmission, or drivetrain standards promulgated by agovernmental or trade organization.

With reference to FIG. 1, the drive assembly 10 is coupled to a crawlerleg 26. In other embodiments, the drive assembly 10 may be coupled toother wheeled or crawler-type vehicles (e.g., cranes, sizers,feeder/breakers, etc.). The crawler leg 26 includes a frame 30 with afirst side 34, a second side (not shown) opposite the first side 34, anda track 38 wrapped around the outside of the frame 30. The frameincludes an upper side 39 and a lower side 40 opposite the upper side39. The track 38 is configured to engage a ground surface as it passesalong the lower side 40.

The drive assembly 10 is coupled to the first side 34 of the frame 30and is positioned in a housing 42 that extends from the frame 30. Asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 42 includes an upper support 50 thatsupports the motor 18. The upper support 50 includes T-shaped slots 54,which, in the illustrated embodiment, extend the full length of theupper support 50 in a direction perpendicular to the first side 34 ofthe frame 30. The motor 18 includes a first or inner axial end 58 and asecond or outer axial end 62 opposite the first axial end 58 (FIG. 2).In the illustrated embodiment, the first axial end 58 is coupleddirectly to the transmission 14, and the second axial end 62 is coupledto the upper support 50 of the housing 42 via a support assembly 66(e.g., a yoke assembly). The second axial end 62 of the motor 18 maythus by suspended underneath the upper support 50 by the supportassembly 66.

A first face plate 70 (FIG. 6) is provided on the first axial end 58 ofthe motor frame 22 to couple the motor frame 22 to the transmission 14.The first face plate 70 can be configured as a C-Face or can beconfigured as a D-Face flange (e.g., according to a NEMA or IECstandard). A second face plate 74 (FIG. 3) is positioned on the secondaxial end 62 of the motor 18 to couple the motor frame 22 to the supportassembly 66. The second face plate 74 can either be adapted to a C-Faceor can itself be configured as a C-Face. The second face plate 74 ismounted to the support assembly 66. In the illustrated embodiment, thefirst face plate 70 is a NEMA standard D-Face Flange and the second faceplate 74 is a NEMA standard C-Face. In other embodiments, the first faceplate 70 and the second face plate 74 can be reversed so that the firstaxial end 58 of the motor frame 22 includes a NEMA C-Face and the secondaxial end 62 of the motor frame 22 includes a NEMA D-Face Flange. Infurther embodiments, the first face plate 70 and the second face plate74 can be other NEMA or IEC standard face plate sizes or face flangesizes.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the transmission 14 includes a drum 86that is positioned within the frame 30 and houses drive components (notshown) to drive the track 38 of the crawler leg 26. An outer flange 90extends radially from the drum 86 and includes a plurality of openingsor slots 94 positioned about the circumference of the flange 90.Fasteners (e.g., bolts, screw, etc.; not shown) are placed in the slots94 to secure the transmission 14 to the first side 34 of the frame 30.The illustrated transmission 18 also includes a neck portion 102,extending outwardly from the drum 86, with an input face 106 (FIG. 6).In some embodiments, the input face 106 may include an adapter ring tofacilitate coupling with the first face plate 70, which may be a (NEMAor IEC) C-Face or D-Face flange.

With reference to FIG. 6, the motor 18 includes an output shaft 110extending from the first axial end 58 perpendicular to the first side 34of the frame 30. The output shaft 110 couples directly to a female shaft(not shown) within the neck portion 102 of the transmission 14 so as toform a direct shaft-to-shaft connection between the motor 18 and thetransmission 14. As described in greater detail below, the T-shapedslots 54 extend parallel to the output shaft 110 of the motor 18 and thefemale shaft of the transmission 14 to facilitate coaxial alignment ofthe output shaft 110 and the input shaft during installation andassembly.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the support assembly 66 includes amount 112 with a yoke portion 114 and a flange portion 118. The yokeportion 114 includes a plurality of apertures 120 that receive fastenersin order to secure the support assembly 66 to the second face plate 74on the second axial end 62 of the motor 18. The flange portion 118 ispositioned in between two elastic spacers 126 that absorb vibrations.The spacers 126 and the flange portion 118 include apertures 122 (FIG.6) through which a fastener 130 extends. On one end of each fastener 130is a T-shaped nut 82 that corresponds with the T-shaped slots 54 on theupper support 50. Now referencing FIG. 4, a nut 138 and washer 142secure the fastener 130 to the mount 112 on the other end of thefastener 130 opposite the T-shaped nut 82. In the illustratedembodiment, two fasteners 130 with corresponding T-shaped nuts 82, matewith the T-shaped slots 54 of the upper support 50. In otherembodiments, the mount 112 can include any other number of fasteners 130and T-shaped nuts 82 (and preferably between one and four) to mate withcorresponding T-shaped slots 54 on the upper support 50. In otherembodiments, the slots 54 and nuts 82 may have other cooperatingconfigurations, such as a dovetail configuration, etc.

When installing the drive assembly 10 on to a vehicle, the transmissiondrum 86 is positioned within the frame 30 of the crawler leg 26. Asdescribed above, the outer flange 90 of the transmission 14 is securedto the frame 30 with a plurality of fasteners extending through theslots 94 (FIG. 5). The T-shaped nuts 82 extending from the mount 112 areslid into the T-shaped slots 54 in the upper supports 50 (FIG. 4). Themating of the T-shaped nuts 82 and T-shaped slots 54 may assist inconcentrically aligning the output shaft 110 of the motor 18 and thefemale shaft of the transmission 14. Since the first and second faceplates 70, 74 are standardized, tighter tolerances can be achieved whenmounting the drive assembly 10 via the face plates 70, 74. In this way,stresses due to misalignment are minimized. The motor 18 is slidablealong the T-shaped slots 54 until the first face plate 70 abuts theinput face 106 of the transmission 18. Fasteners (not shown) may thensecure the transmission input face 106 to the first face plate 70.

In addition to facilitating concentric alignment of the output shaft 110of the motor 18 with the female shaft of the transmission 14, theconfiguration of the support assembly 66 allows motors that wouldtypically not be usable in combination with a vehicle transmissionbecause of their size, shape, rating, etc. to be mounted and supportedon the vehicle. The spacers 126 isolate the motor 18 from vibrationsthat may be experienced on vehicles with large vibrational loads. Thevibrational isolation of the support assembly 66 allows motors nottypically equipped for high vibrational loads to be used on a variety ofvehicles with high vibrational loads. Additionally, the support assembly66 compensates for overall length (e.g., axial length) variations of themotor 18 because the nuts 82 can be positioned at any point along theslots 54.

The drive assembly 10 can thus be used with a wide variety of motors andtransmissions, in a wide variety of different vehicle applications.Using standardized motor frames and transmission sizes reduces the costof the drive assembly 10 and avoids the need for application-specificmotor and transmission designs that are typically required on miningvehicles and other work vehicles. In other words, the support assembly66 enables the use of standardized components that would otherwise notbe suitable for the working environments of vehicles with largevibrational loads and tight manufacturing tolerances. In addition,because the support assembly 66 couples to standardized components,other conventional add-on options can be added to the motor 18 ortransmission 14. For example, the motor 18 can be combined with suchadd-on options as a motor brake, an encoder, a resolver, a condensateheater, etc. and the transmission 14 can be combined with such add-onoptions as an integral brake, hydraulic or electric motor input face.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a drive assembly 210 is illustratedaccording to another embodiment of the invention. The drive assembly 210differs from the drive assembly 10 in that the drive assembly 210 issupported by a lower support 240 in the housing 42 (as an alternative tothe upper support 50 described above). The lower support 240 includesT-shaped slots 54 that extend the full length of the lower support 240perpendicular to the first side 34 of the frame 30. In the driveassembly 210, the motor 18 also includes two feet 278 that are supportedon the lower support 240 of the housing 42. The feet 278 each supportT-shaped nuts 82 that correspond to the T-shaped slots 54 on the lowersupport 240. The T-shaped nuts 82 on the feet 78 of the motor 18 areslid into the T-shaped slots 54 in the lower support 240. As describedabove with reference to drive assembly 10, T-shaped nuts 82 of the motor18 are slidable within the T-shaped slots 54 until the first face plate70 abuts the input face 106 of the transmission 18. Fasteners thensecure the transmission input face 106 to the first face plate 70. Infurther embodiments, the drive assemblies 10, 210 may include both theupper support 50 and the lower support 240.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drive assembly for a mining vehicle comprising:a frame; a housing coupled to the frame; a motor positioned in thehousing; the motor including a motor frame, the motor frame including afirst axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end; atransmission positioned at least partially within the frame, thetransmission coupled to the motor frame at the first axial end; and asupport assembly coupling the second axial end of the motor frame to thehousing.
 2. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the transmission iscoupled to the motor with a direct shaft to shaft connection.
 3. Thedrive assembly of claim 1, further comprising a crawler track extendingaround the frame.
 4. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the supportassembly couples the motor to an upper support of the housing such thatthe second axial end of the motor is suspended from the upper support.5. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the support assembly couplesthe motor to a lower support of the housing.
 6. The drive assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the housing includes a slot extending perpendicular toa first side of the frame, and wherein the support assembly includes afastener that is slidable along the slot when installing the motor intothe housing.
 7. A drive assembly for a mining vehicle comprising: ahousing; a motor positioned in the housing, the motor including a firstaxial end, a second axial end opposite the first axial end, and astandardized face plate at the first axial end; a transmission having astandardized input face coupled to the standardized face plate of themotor; and a support assembly coupling the second axial end of the motorto the housing.
 8. The drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the motorincludes an output shaft, wherein the housing includes a slot extendingparallel to the output shaft, and wherein the support assembly includesa fastener that is received within the slot.
 9. The drive assembly ofclaim 7, wherein the support assembly suspends the second axial end ofthe motor from the housing.
 10. The drive assembly of claim 7, whereinthe support assembly includes a mount with a yoke portion and a flangeportion.
 11. The drive assembly of claim 10, wherein the yoke portion iscoupled to the second axial end of the motor, and the flange portion iscoupled to the housing.
 12. The drive assembly of claim 7, wherein theface plate is a first face plate, and wherein the motor further includesa second standardized face plate at the second axial end.
 13. The driveassembly of claim 12, wherein the first face plate has a differentconfiguration than the second face plate.
 14. The drive assembly ofclaim 13, wherein the first face plate includes a NEMA D face and thesecond face plate includes a NEMA C face.
 15. The drive assembly ofclaim 7, wherein the support assembly includes an elastic member betweenthe motor and the housing.
 16. The drive assembly of claim 7, whereinthe support assembly is coupled to an upper support of the housing. 17.The drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the support assembly is coupledto a lower support of the housing.
 18. The drive assembly of claim 7,wherein the transmission is positioned at least partially within a frameof a crawler leg.
 19. A support assembly for supporting a motor within ahousing on a frame of a mining vehicle, the support assembly comprising:a mount including an upper flange portion and a lower yoke portion, theupper flange portion having an aperture and the lower yoke portionconfigured to be coupled to an axial end of the motor; a fastenerextending through the aperture; and a nut coupled to an end of thefastener, the nut being slidably receivable within a slot of the housingto couple the support assembly to the housing.
 20. The support assemblyof claim 19, further comprising an elastic member positioned between theflange portion and the nut.